Taesu knew that personality better than anyone.
“I’d sooner die than not ask.”
He chose instead to ask Dr. Schmidt directly.
He was just about to raise his hand.
Dr. Schmidt rapped heavily on the table in front of him.
Tap, tap.
“Now, quiet for a moment.”
The sound spread throughout the dining hall.
Everyone was quick to put their moment of emotion on hold.
“……”
In an instant, silence fell.
Still smiling, Dr. Schmidt continued.
“Please listen to the announcements first, and then resume your celebration.”
“Yes.”
“First, as originally planned, we will not be stopping by headquarters.”
“Yes.”
Everyone answered in one voice.
Dr. Schmidt continued calmly.
“After two days of rest, we will depart for Kargil, the next city for our medical volunteer work.”
“Yes.”
“We will be divided into an advance team, main team, and rear team, and move in order.”
“Yes.”
After the resounding reply, Dr. Schmidt added,
“I’m sure you are concerned about the current inpatients, outpatients, and those who have yet to receive treatment.”
“Yes, we are.”
A booming voice rang out in that instant.
It was Taesu.
Since it was exactly what he had been about to ask, he must have been glad to hear it, because he shouted before he even realized it.
Swish.
All eyes turned to him at once.
But everyone was smiling faintly.
Dr. Schmidt was no different.
He looked at Taesu with a bright expression and answered,
“Dr. Choi, I’m sure everyone is curious.”
“Ahem. Yes, that’s right.”
“If you have anything to request regarding that matter, please relay it to Dr. Oliver. He will be in charge of the rear team.”
Because it was an official setting, Dr. Schmidt spoke to him respectfully.
He then went on to announce several other pieces of news.
Taesu, who had been listening closely, gradually hardened.
Kargil?
When it had been mentioned earlier, he had been too worried about patients like Shanmeheum to pay much attention.
Hearing it again, it was indeed that place.
It had been mentioned during Lee Changgyu’s emergency treatment, and the memory was not a pleasant one.
It seemed Taesu was not the only one who remembered.
Jeong Minsu immediately frowned.
“That’s the town with the rotten hospital.”
“I’m not exactly thrilled. No, wait—is that why we’re going?”
Kim Hyeokgwon also showed his feelings.
He seemed to remember that they had said they disliked NGOs.
Taesu’s head grew slightly complicated.
He could not decide whether he should be pleased about going to Kargil for medical volunteer work or not.
While he was still wrestling with that thought,
Tap, tap.
Brad Kim lightly nudged Taesu and asked,
“Can’t you hear?”
“What?”
“The doctor is calling you.”
Just as he quietly informed him,
Dr. Schmidt looked this way and called his name.
“Dr. Choi, where did the man who was just here suddenly disappear to?”
“Hahaha.”
At Dr. Schmidt’s joke, laughter burst out.
Now that everyone was in a good mood, anything said was being taken cheerfully.
Taesu, however, was in no position to laugh it off after being called on.
He sprang up.
He quickly stood and answered loudly.
“Did you call for me?”
“Where did you go?”
“I’m sorry. I was lost in thought and didn’t hear you.”
Taesu answered briskly, tense.
“Were you thinking about your patients?”
“Yes. Well, something like that.”
“Please speak separately with Dr. Oliver.”
“Understood.”
“I didn’t call on you because you were lost in thought, so there’s no need to be nervous.”
Dr. Schmidt spoke warmly once more.
“Hahaha.”
Everyone laughed as they looked at Taesu.
Taesu awkwardly followed along with a smile.
“Ha, haha.”
It was his first time receiving the attention of this many people.
That was why even his smile was not quite natural.
Even Dr. Schmidt’s joke, meant to ease his tension, had no effect.
Perhaps deciding that he should not drag it out any longer,
Dr. Schmidt spoke again.
“Dr. Jeong, Mr. Kim. Would the two of you please stand as well?”
At being called, Jeong Minsu’s eyes widened, and he sprang to his feet.
“……”
Jeong Minsu stood at attention like a wooden doll, unable to move an inch.
Kim Hyeokgwon’s reaction was the exact opposite.
He rose slowly, wearing an incredulous expression.
“Why me, when I was just sitting here quietly?”
No matter whose gaze was on him, his personality remained unchanged.
No matter how much Taesu thought about it, he could not figure out why only the three of them had been made to stand.
Jeong Minsu’s expression had entered the final stages of timidity, while Kim Hyeokgwon only looked indifferent.
They were truly brimming with individuality.
At that moment, Dr. Schmidt gestured to the three of them and spoke to everyone.
“Our time with these three ends today.”
“What?”
“They will be returning to NGO headquarters tomorrow morning.”
“Ah.”
Regret spread thickly across everyone’s faces.
But Taesu and the other two themselves had known nothing about it.
This was a notification.
“What the hell?”
They were filled only with bewilderment.
Meanwhile, Dr. Schmidt continued as he watched their reactions.
“Taking this opportunity, I’d like us to give a round of applause to these three, who are concluding their first joint medical volunteer mission.”
The moment those words ended,
Dr. Quentin quickly raised his voice.
“Excellent. Let’s give them a round of applause that’ll knock them over.”
Clap, clap, clap.
As if leading by example, he clapped so hard one worried for his palms.
He was the beginning.
Immediately afterward, thunderous applause began.
“Whew! You worked hard.”
“That’s right. They deserve a round of applause.”
“While we’re at it, let’s hear their thoughts too.”
“Exactly. We have to hear that.”
Clap, clap, clap.
They told them to give their thoughts, but the applause did not stop.
At the deafening sound of applause, Taesu felt a sudden electric jolt run through him.
It was a powerful shock, strong enough to make every fine hair on his body stand on end.
That was how new this moment was to him.
Taesu slowly looked around at everyone.
Everyone whose eyes met his smiled gently.
And they sent him warm gazes as well.
“You worked hard.”
“It’s a little regrettable.”
“Next time, again.”
Even through their eyes, those messages reached him.
Something emotional welled up in Taesu’s chest.
It was his first time.
It was his first time simply standing in front of this many people.
And it was also his first time having everyone look at him with such warmth.
At the smiles and applause sent by everyone with one heart, the tip of his nose began to sting.
Jeong Minsu and Kim Hyeokgwon.
It was a moment the two of them were experiencing for the first time as well.
Because each had their own circumstances, this moment seemed to touch them in a special way.
Soon, the sound of applause diminished.
But no one withdrew their gaze from Taesu.
“……”
“……”
In the quietly settled atmosphere, they were waiting for a reply.
Taesu was the first to respond to their request.
“Well……”
He opened his mouth, but his voice caught in his throat.
The emotion quietly trembling within him had suddenly surged.
Taesu himself seemed flustered, as if he had not expected this.
“Ahem.”
He quickly cleared his throat and steadied his voice.
Everyone waited quietly without a word.
“……”
Their gentle smiles were a bonus.
Then, perhaps trying to hide his overwhelming feelings, Taesu spoke in blunt bursts.
“First of all, we just now heard the news that we’re going back too.”
“What?”
“I don’t know if it’s really all right to kick us out like this just because we’ve been running around everywhere and tormenting the specialists.”
Taesu immediately revealed the lingering resentment from being abruptly notified.
Everyone, now accustomed to his unique way of speaking, burst into loud laughter.
“Hahaha.”
Since the reaction was good, Taesu simply relaxed and continued.
“Because this was our first medical volunteer mission, everything was new to us, and we caused a lot of trouble.”
“……”
“If we get the chance to work together again, we’ll try causing trouble in a new way.”
His absurd words of farewell gently echoed through the hall.
Each person’s gaze toward Taesu grew deep.
It seemed many memories were passing through their minds.
But just then,
Dr. Talon, who had suffered the most in the medical tent right beside him, shouted.
“Dr. Choi, not that.”
“Hahaha.”
Everyone laughed loudly, smoothing over Dr. Talon’s grievance.
Once the laughter subsided, Taesu bowed deeply.
“I learned a great deal. Thank you.”
Bow.
As Taesu’s greeting came to an end, everyone gave him another round of applause and cheers.
Clap, clap, clap.
“The strongest resident in the NGO.”
“When it comes to emergency care, it’s Dr. Choi.”
“A patient-obsessed fool whether sitting or standing.”
Various nicknames rang out here and there.
That was the sentiment they held toward Taesu.
The hero of Ijambak.
The youngest member of James’s surgical team.
Those symbolic nicknames were not mentioned.
Only nicknames that felt familiar, like those for a younger brother, while reflecting Taesu’s stubborn tenacity, filled the room.
Taesu showed a choked smile at the flood of nicknames.
Next, Jeong Minsu gave his greeting.
As much attention as he received, Jeong Minsu’s timidity deepened.
“I, I…… um, so……”
Fidget, fidget.
He did not know where to put his eyes, and he could not keep his hands still either.
The pauses between each word he forced out were incredibly long.
At first, everyone waited with smiles, but the smiles on their faces gradually grew awkward.
It must have been terribly frustrating, because in the end, Taesu stepped in.
“He says thank you. Minsu, bow.”
“Th-thank you.”
Bow.
Jeong Minsu quickly bowed.
As if they had been waiting for that moment, everyone hurriedly applauded as one.
Clap, clap, clap.
“And then when an emergency patient appears, he changes completely.”
“Dr. Jeong, Dr. Choi’s inseparable partner.”
“Dr. Jeong is an excellent resident too.”
“Have some pride in yourself. Got it?”
They each offered him a word of affectionate advice as well.
As for Jeong Minsu?
“……”
He was lying face down on the table, covering his face.
Lastly, Kim Hyeokgwon gave his greeting.
As always, his words stabbed straight into the heart.
“The beginning wasn’t good, but I’m glad the end is.”
“Ahem.”
“If other residents come after we’re gone, please treat them well then.”
“……”
“Anyway, you all worked hard. Don’t get sick and…… that’s enough, right?”
Bow.
Kim Hyeokgwon spoke somewhat lukewarmly, but he did offer a greeting.
Everyone failed to catch the timing to applaud and glanced around, then finally hurried to clap.
Clap, clap, clap.
But it was unusually quiet.
Each word had pierced their hearts.
They knew there was no malice in it, so they could not object.
All they could do was clap and smile awkwardly.
Bruno, the volunteer team leader, stepped forward and began changing the slightly awkward atmosphere.
“Ah, I have some announcements. First……”
He asked each department to divide themselves into advance, main, and rear teams.
He said the volunteers needed to be sorted as well.
And other small details continued to be announced.
Before long, everyone had begun writing down the relevant information with pen and notebook.